THE Mercedes-Benz A-class is now available with a diesel-sipping 2.0-litre engine that gives the premium one-box hatch a counterpoint to the likes of the A3 Sportback TDIe and the BMW 120d, even though these entry-level German luxury brand diesels all take different approaches. In the efficiently-packaged A-class, the new 2.0-litre diesel delivers a fine blend of power and economy. But the question is, is the rest of the A180 CDI package able to match these qualities?
![](/assets/contents/49feaf1c79f04db2c48f1190263be1c5d1b774f0.jpg)
Mercedes-Benz A-class
Released: October 2006
Ended: October 2008
Family Tree: A-classTHE second-generation W169 Mercedes-Benz A-class – introduced into Australia in 2005 – was both better-looking and more practical than Mercedes’ first small car, the W168 model that came here in 1998. The W169 introduced a three-door model for the first time, bringing the entry price below $30,000. Engine choices were a base 70kW 1.5-litre, a 1.7-litre, a 2.0-litre and a 142kW 2.0-litre turbo. A conventional manual five-speed gearbox replaced the previous clutchless sequential gearbox (six speeds in the turbo) and a continuously-variable automatic transmission (CVT) was available across the board.
Facebook Twitter Instagram